Made you jump! Terrified impalas leap feet in the air as a hungry crocodile rears up trying to make a meal of them.

The croc was lying in wait at a waterhole when it tried to catch its dinner.

And the moment was captured by amateur, er, snapper John Mullineux, 32, at Kruger National Park in South Africa.

The nimble impalas look like they could have been caught in an explosion as they leap out of the way of the snapping croc, which tries and fails to catch them.

The impalas bolt as the croc opens its huge mouth, revealing its sharp teeth (Image: Caters)

John, a chemical engineer, said: “The persistent drought made the rivers dry - as a result there are only some pools of water in the riverbeds for animals to drink from, and there is a high density of crocodiles.

“Every time the impala got close, the croc would strike - either one impala was brave enough to get closer to the teeth, or there were too many impala and one final incomer pushed one of its friends into the strike zone.

A scared impala leaps away from the savage croc as zebras go about their business (Image: Caters)

“Whenever an impala came within range, the crocodile jumped out of the water.

“In the hours I sat there, there were five attempts - but every time the impalas got away.

“This was a quintessential African experience, but a scene I have never photographed.

The crocodile sends the impalas scattering as they do their best to leave the beast lagging (Image: Caters)

“I could see the danger, as could the targets, but the degree of thirst experienced by the impala during this drought drove them to drink near such a ferocious predator.

“Only in such extremes can one truly appreciate the struggle of life faced by wildlife and I know that, once the rains come and the seasons are restored, the gene pools will be stronger and my beloved fauna will be stronger for making it through this challenge.”